Tadorna ferruginea

Status:  No accepted records.

Taxonomy: No subspecies recognized.

Comments:  The Nebraska reports are of single birds and are certainly escaped or released birds. Nevertheless, Howell et al (2014) made a case that small groups appearing in fall may be wild birds. A recent report is of four birds near Ocala, Florida Apr-Jun 2021 (eBird.org).

The three Nebraska reports are of one at Kearney Lake, Buffalo Co, 24 Feb 1997 that was considered an escapee based on its behavior, including “aggressive begging, following people around, and approaching cars and people fearlessly” (David Rintoul, pers. comm.), another at Fremont Lakes SRA, Dodge Co 14-16 Feb 2013, and one near Geneva, Fillmore Co 12 Jul 2015.

Abbreviations used in text

SRA: State Recreation Area

Acknowledgement

Photograph (top) of a Ruddy Shelduck in Dodge Co 14 February 2014 by Charlotte Croshaw.

Literature Cited

Howell, S.N.G., I. Lewington, and W. Russell. 2014. Rare birds of North America. Princeton and Oxford:  Princeton University Press, New Jersey.

Recommended Citation

Silcock, W.R., and J.G. Jorgensen.  2021.  Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea). In Birds of Nebraska — Online. www.BirdsofNebraska.org

Birds of Nebraska – Online

Updated 4 Jul 2021